Whitney Houston Biopic: Yaya DaCosta Recreates Iconic Album Cover

Shooting for Lifetime's Whitney Houston biopic just started and already its star, Yaya DaCosta, is creating a buzz with her recreation of a 1987 album cover in which she bares a striking resemblance to the iconic singer.

"I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story," which is being directed by Houston's "Waiting to Exhale" costar Angela Bassett, is moving forward despite some criticism from the late star's family members. For her part, DaCosta credits her modeling background for helping her nail the new promo pictures, in which she's mimicking Houston's "Whitney" cover.

"Music rights and clearances are still being worked out," a Lifetime representative told E! News.

Bassett, an Oscar nominee herself, told EW in June that the film means more to her than building her credentials as a director because it is so personal.

"I obviously had worked with Whitney and, you know, just fell in love with her as the rest of the world did," Bassett said. "And when this opportunity was brought my way, it really was something I couldn't say no to."

"I felt that if I said no and let it pass, I could imagine having a great deal of regret, you know? I wanted to tell a story about a beautiful sista, which is of course an opportunity for me to grow as a woman and as an artist in many expected and unexpected ways."

Shooting for Lifetime's Whitney Houston biopic just started and already its star, Yaya DaCosta, is creating a buzz with her recreation of a 1987 album cover in which she bares a striking resemblance to the iconic singer.